My cat has boarding anxiety. Will calming treats be effective?

I can imagine it will be really hard for you to leave your cats, especially Jack! Yes, there are calming agents you can use. I recommend Feliway. It's a plug in diffuser that releases pheromones that help calm down cats. You can pair that with a Sentry calming collar, which also release pheromones when in contact with his skin. Your cats should be ok, they do adjust when their owners go on holiday for a bit. I would recommend as well leaving notice with your vet that your roommate has permission to seek veterinary treatment for them just in case something happens while you are gone. You also may want to have some funds set aside too in case of emergency. I hope this helps!

Sully is adorable! Thanks for including a picture. I wish I could give you a simple answer to your question, but every animal is different and some require a combination of products. I would say that about 50% of the animals I try it with have a good response to Rescue Remedy, so that is often my first choice for cats (especially since it can just be added to the water). I have not used the other products, but both appear to have ingredients that could be used alone or in combination with Rescue Remedy. Don't forget that natural supplements are much more variable than medications and will not sedate, so they are sometimes not enough for a very anxious cat. I also recommend combining supplements with a Feliway Diffuser ( https://www.feliway.com ) or a Comfort Zone Diffuser ( https://www.comfortzone.com/ ) in your house. This is a calming pheromone that will work for a month. You could also consider calming music specifically for cats ( http://throughadogsear.com/tace/through-a-cats-ear-1-music-for-calming/ ). Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Ginger should be examined by the veterinarian prior to the flight to check her heart and blood pressure. She will likely need a health certificate and vaccine update (if due). If she is prone to stress, sedatives/anti-anxiety medications may help. In general, the over the counter options don't tend to be effective (though you can try them). Your veterinarian will have proven medications that work. It is also recommend to have a trial run at home a few days before your flight so you know how Ginger responds to them. Here is also a helpful article: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-travel-with-a-cat/ I hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is a very common complaint. I recommend talking to your vet about some anti-anxiety medication for his stay there. There are so many great options that wont turn Milo into a "zombie" - they'll just help him relax and enjoy his stay a bit more. Best of luck to you all and enjoy your travels!

Cats generally don't do well either way, but taking them out of their environment is typically more stressful to cats. I would suggest keeping her there in the house and let your friend take care of her needs while you're away. You can also look into a supplement called Zylkene which is a natural way to treat anxiety in pets. It is available online and in some veterinarian clinics. It is a capsule tht can either be given by mouth or potentially sprinkled on your pets food daily. If you are interested in this approach, I would recommend trying it first at home with Bitsy while you are still there to ensure she still stays interested in her food, especially if you decide to sprinkle it on top. A good tip here is to mix it in with the food to hide it well. If you are using dry kibble then adding a small amount of water will help to mix in the contents. Other options for stress management can be discussed with your veterinarian, but most require giving the medication by mouth and I'm not sure how comfortable your friend would be with this approach. I hope that this information proves helpful. Best of luck with your pet Bitsy moving forward. Take care!

Well done in finding and researching a suitable boarding facility and I hope you feel better about it once you have visited! Pheromone collars and specialist diets or supplements such as royal canin calm can help, especially if started before they go in and can help them adjust to a new environment and routine

Hi there! You could try Feliway pheromone spray in her carrier before the trip, along with a natural calming supplement such as Zylkene or Composure. All of these can be ordered online or purchased at pet stores without a prescription.